Ben Williamson had two hits and three RBIs and left-hander Shane McClanahan earned his first victory in nearly three years as the visiting Tampa Bay Rays defeated the Chicago White Sox 8-5 on Tuesday.
Tampa Bay stretched its winning streak to four games while sending Chicago to its sixth loss in eight games.
McClanahan (1-1) sparked the effort, spacing three runs (two earned) and two hits in five innings with four walks and four strikeouts. After missing the past two seasons due to Tommy John elbow surgery and a nerve issue, respectively, McClanahan picked up his first win since June 16, 2023, a 6-2 victory at San Diego.
Bryan Baker got the final out on Tuesday to notch his third save. Chicago’s Munetaka Murakami connected for a two-run home run in the bottom of the ninth to account for the final margin.
White Sox left-hander Noah Schultz struggled with wildness at the outset of his major league debut. After retiring Yandy Diaz on a flyout to left field to begin his outing, Schultz walked the next two hitters and allowed an RBI double to Ryan Vilade, who had three hits.
With runners at second and third and one out, Williamson pushed a sacrifice bunt to the right side, but the 22-year-old Schultz threw wide of home plate, allowing two runs to score for a 3-0 first-inning lead.
Although Schultz (0-1) settled down, the early damage took a toll before a crowd that included members of the baseball team from his high school alma mater, about 45 minutes southwest of Chicago in Oswego, Ill. A 2022 first-round draft pick out of Oswego East High, the 6-foot-10 Schultz scattered four runs (three earned) and three hits in 4 1/3 innings with four walks and four strikeouts.
Chicago drew within 4-3 in the third inning. Everson Pereira, who was reinstated from the 10-day injured list before the game, blasted a three-run home run after Chase Meidroth reached on catcher interference and Murakami walked.
Hunter Bigge, Mason Englert and Yoendrys Gomez limited the White Sox to one hit in three innings before the ninth.
Diaz had two hits and an RBI for the Rays. Jonny DeLuca and Nick Fortes also drove in runs.
